Advertisements appear in newspapers, NHS trusts/local council jobs lists, and publications such as Nursing Times, Nursing Standard, Health Service Journal, British Medical Journal and their respective websites. Previous relevant experience is not essential, but any gained caring for people can be helpful.

Qualification necessitates undertaking a three-year diploma course or a three to four-year degree course. Graduates with a degree in a relevant subject such as life, health, biological or social sciences can qualify via a shortened two-year postgraduate diploma course.

Applications for diplomas and undergraduate degree courses should be made through UCAS; those for shortened postgraduate courses should be made directly to the relevant institutions. You'll need to apply about a year in advance of the course commencing.